Illuminating device



J. A. GERMONPREZ ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed June 12, 1936 May 25, 1937.

Patented May 25, 1937 spams rarer-tr or ies ILLUWNATENG DEVICE Application June 12, 1936, Serial No. 8%,821

2 Claims.

This invention relates to illuminating devices, and more particularly to a combined light and iswitch with an improved lamp and globe mount- The principal object of my invention is to provide a combined lighting fixture and switch for use particularly with small size battery operated lamps, which is susceptible of ornamentation. My invention is directed particularly to an illuminating device for automobile interiors, but many other advantageous uses will become apparent from its description.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a socket upon which a globe of transparent or translucent material is screwed to form a shell which completely encloses the lamp together with the lamp and socket terminals. This globe is easily removable when it is necessary to replace a burned out lamp. It can readily be formed in any of a number of ornamental designs and can be adapted to distribute the light outwardly from the socket or radially from the lamp filament in anyproportlons as desired.

As is customary in the art when a single contact type of lamp is used, the socket of my device forms one terminal, While a second terminal is brought into the socket and insulated therefrom. A coil spring inside of the socket bears upon the metal base of the lamp, maintaining electrical connection between these two parts. At the same time, the spring acts to prevent the lamp from entering the socket sufficiently to effect contact between the central lamp terminal and the insulated central socket terminal. In

order to complete the lamp circuit, means forforcing the lamp into the socket against the spring pressure must. be provided. I accomplish this by making the globe in such size and shape as to bear upon the top of the lamp bulb and force the bulb into the socket as the globe is screwed onto the socket.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown one embodimentoi my invention. In the draw- Fig. 1 shows my device installed in an autoor other conducting material and having threads t2 and 3 formed on its external surface. An annular flange i projects outwardly from socket 8 (C1. Elli-7.1)

between threads 2 and threads 8 to cooperate with nut 5, screwing on threads 3, to give rigid support to socket i when the device is installed by tightening nut. 5 upon a supporting member not shown. Socket l comprises one terminal of the source of electrical energy. The other terminal 6 is brought into socket l by means of wire l terminating in sleeve cap 8 which is adapted to reciprocate in guide s, spring ill being provided to retain terminal 9 in its normal position within socket i and the open end of sleeve cap 8 being flared in assembling to limit the inward motion of terminal l3. Guide is mounted in the bottom oi socket l by means of insulating disc ll. Inwardly extending flange l2 forms a cup to receive disc ll which on assembling is securely fixed in place in the can by swaglng part of shoulder it inwardly to form a retaining flange.

Spring i3 is positioned within socket i to rest upon shoulder it in the bottom of socket l and to bear upon metal base lb of lamp to thereby holding central terminal ll of lamp it normally out oi contact with terminal [3. Spring i3 is formed of conducting material and being in contact with base it which is one terminal of lamp to and with socket, l which is one terminal oi. the source of electrical energy, serves to electrically connect these two terminals.

In lieu oi the usual practice of providing a switch separate from and in addition to the liluminating device itself, I use globe it to provide circuit closing means. Globe i3 is preferably formed of a moulded plastic-such as'1enite" or Plaskon, or of glass or other transparent or translucent material. it may be designed in a number of ornamental shapes and colors and may beconstructed to distribute the light for any particular purpose as desired. The larger proportion of the light may be thrown forward, or the top of globe it may be thickened when it is made of a translucent material to increase the proportion of light distributed radially from the lamp filament, or either the top of globe to or the lateral surface may be blanked off to prevent the passage of light through that portion entirely, if desired.

i to close the circuit. Flange 4 operates as a stop to limit the movement of globe l8 on socket I, a short travel being allowed after contact of terminals 6 and I! to insure a good connection. Terminal 6 is allowed to move inwardly against the pressure of spring Hi to prevent breakage of bulb I 9 as pressure is applied. ,Unscrewing globe i8 slightly will release thepressure upon bulb l8, and spring l3 will cause lamp IE to move outwardly to again open the lamp circuit.

It will be seen by those skilled in'the art that my invention offers a combined light and switch capable of advantageous adaptation to many uses. All electric contacts are enclosed in an air-- tight shell, thereby preventing access of moisture and debris which cause, corrosion and result in poor connections. Many difliculties experienced in the use of sockets at present employed are obviated, such as the sticking of the lamp base in the socket shell or the fouling of switches due to corrosion or presence of foreign materials.

Lamps designed to be mounted in a socket by means of a bayonet type of connection may be used in my device, although the base pins are not needed. Thus the cost of manufacture of lamps can be decreased by the use of my invention. The pressure of spring l3 operates to hold the lamp securely in the socket without danger of vibration and the construction or the interior oi globe l8 serves as a centering means for bulb 19 to insure even light intensity on the entire lateral surface of ,globe l8.

Although my invention is adaptable to a multitudeof uses, it has particular utility as an ornamental light on automobiles, and may be used for interior lighting by mounting the device above the windshield where it is convenient to the operator, or it may be mounted on the ceiling as a dome light or on the instrument panel.

While but one embodiment of the invention is.

illustrated in the drawing, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination in an illuminating device 01' the class described, a metal socket having a cylindrical body open at one erid with an externally threaded portion near the mouth thereof, a unitary light permeable globe having an inter-v nally threaded mouth adapted to screw onto said externally threaded mouth of the socket, said globe otherwise being imperforate, an external flange on said socket to limit the travel oi' said globe onto said threaded mouthof said socket, an insulator supported in the other end or said cylindrical body, means supported on said insulator providing a contact which lies substantially on the cylindrical axis and which is resiliently dlsplaceable along the axis of said cylinder for a limited distance, a lamp consisting of a glass bulb and a base,said bulb being positioned substantially within said globe'and said 2,081,708 base being positioned substantially within said socket, a helical metal spring in'said socket having its axis lying substantially parallel to the cylindrical axis of the socket and being con-,

figured to avoid electrical engagement with said ,center contact o1"th e socket, and. central and gagement with the central contact in said socket and against the concave interior'end wall of said globe, the threaded portions at the mouths of said socket and globe being adapted to hold said globe and socket in assembled relation without holding said lamp base against the central contact of said socket, said flange on said socket being so positioned as to permit said globe and socket to be screwed together to force said lamp base against the central contact of said socket.

2. In combination in an illuminating device of the classdescribecl, a metal socket having a cylindrical body open at one end with an externally threaded portion near the mouth thereof, I

a unitary, light permeable globe having an internally threaded mouth adapted to screw onto viding-a contact which lies substantially on the cylindrical axis and which is resiliently displacea'ble along the axis oi said cylinder for a limited distance, a lamp consisting of a glass bulb and abase, said bulb being positioned substantially within said globe and said base being positioned substantially within said socket, a helical metal spring in said socket having its axis lying substantially coincident with the cylindrical axis of the socket and being of such size as to avoid electrical engagement with said center contact 01 the socket, and central and excentral contacts on the end of said lamp base engaging said center contact of said socket and said spring, said spring engaging the metal of said socket, said globe having a concave interior end wall for engaging the lamp bulb to hold the lamp against said spring, and to retain said lamp in place,

' said spring tending to hold said lamp base out of 

